Stocks edge higher ahead of Memorial Day holiday

Major stock indexes drifted higher in morning trading Friday, putting the market on track for a third consecutive day of modest gains. A government report showing sales of new U.S. homes increased last month pushed up homebuilder stocks....

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ADVISORY, Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What: News Corp (Nasdaq:NWSA) and MarketWatch will visit the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content to consumers throughout the world. MarketWatch is the leading online financial news publisher,...

By Benzinga, September 10, 2013, 02:57:53 PM EDT Vote up The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE: DIA ), the tracking ETF for the 30 blue-chips that comprise the venerable Dow, will be getting a big makeover on Sept. 23. That is the first day the Dow and subsequently DIA will open for trading with Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS ), Nike (NYSE: NKE ) and Visa (NYSE: V ) as...

Though the NADSAQ exchange stopped trading yesterday, should you consider not trading the NASDAQ Composite Index? Compared to the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite Index looks like the better investment for the month of August. Though the NASDAQ is flat, the S&P 500 is down nearly 2% while the Dow is off by more than 3%. (Read more:...

* Nasdaq halts trading because of technical issues * Hewlett-Packard weighs on Dow after revenue comments * Dow up 0.4 pct, S&P up 0.7 pct, last up Nasdaq 0.9 pct NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Trading was halted on the Nasdaq, the second-largest U.S. stock exchange, shortly after noon on Thursday because of technical problems, while stocks rose as other U.S. markets continued to...

There's much to cheer about on Thursday -- US earnings on the whole are pleasing so far; Facebook and Apple both put a smile on markets face overnight with quarterly numbers which will perhaps go some...

There are varying accounts about how the Dutch-named "de Waal Straat" got its name. A generally accepted version is that the name of the street name was derived from an earthen wall on the northern boundary of the New Amsterdam settlement, perhaps to protect against English colonial encroachment or incursions by native Americans. A conflicting explanation is that Wall Street was named after Walloons -- possibly a Dutch abbreviation for Walloon being Waal. Among the first settlers that embarked on the ship "Nieu Nederlandt" in 1624 were 30 Walloon families.

There's much to cheer about on Thursday -- US earnings on the whole are pleasing so far; Facebook and Apple both put a smile on markets face overnight with quarterly numbers which will perhaps go some way in justifying those silly P/E ratios both are sitting on. Mega week for deal activity so far; pharma deals with Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline earlier this week as well as reports of AstraZeneca being hit on by Pfizer.
Overnight, reports that French industrial manufacturer Alstom was being eyed up by US bellwether General Electric in a deal worth $13billion. Alstom came out this morning with a statement suggesting that it doesn't know about any offer but hasn't exactly flat out denied it which will keep the bid chatter propping up the French company's shares today. Alstom currently up 12%.
For GE, it would be the biggest acquisition in its history and makes complete strategic sense. GE is basically in every one of Alstom's businesses plus more and purchased the French company's power unit back in the 90s. GE is currently in a strategic process to diversify the group further while Alstom is repairing its balance sheet to dispose of more non-core businesses. If GE manages to charm Alstom into its arms, the deal would be worth 5% of the US giant's market cap -- expect GE shares to jump at the Wall Street open later.
Briefly on tech titans Facebook and Apple --after-market shares for both companies jumped after much better than expected earnings. Facebook's mobile business was the standout performer, pleasing market participants who were once unsure how FB will monitize itself appropriately. Clearly, mobile advertising is where the real growth is for the company who reported a 59% jump in the period as monthly active mobile users passed 1biilion. Facebook beat on other metrics too; revenues were better while EPS doubled -- no wonder Zuckerberg was happy to splash out on big money purchases of WhatsApp and Oculus VR.
Meanwhile, Apple please the market with better than expected iPhone sales, particularly in China which represented a 17% jump in total unit sales. Following three or so quarters of underwhelming iPhone sales, the market was fearful the tech giant will again disappoint but that was not the case. Additionally, the company is returning more than $30billion to shareholders in its capital return programme whilst increasing the dividend. Furthermore, the product pipeline brings further cheer -- iPhone6 is expected this year as well as a reported 'phablet' and a potential iWatch.
In European markets, stock indices advance with the FTSE100 up 31 points, the DAX higher by 40 points and the EuroStoxx50 up 14 points. Ukraine tensions increase; US troops have landed in Poland for a military exercise with more soldiers expected in forthcoming days. This follows days of violent incidents between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces. The US is warning of further sanctions but this military exercise is suggesting the West is preparing for military action if Russia fails to destabilise the tensions in the Ukraine.
On economic news in Europe so far; we have the German ifo survey out shortly which is expected to show a modest decline in April. French business confidence edged lower in April, confirming that weak domestic demand and political uncertainties continue to effect confidence. That said, markets are putting the macros aside and focussing on the wealth of corporate news out Thursday.
Brewer Heineken topped sales estimates, food and beverage giant Unilever delivered impressive numbers in the face of EM volatility and Novartis reported respectable profit of 22% whilst undergoing a huge restructure which resulted in its latest deals with Glaxo. Looking ahead, another raft of high profile US earnings from Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, GM, Verizon and UPS will steal the spotlight. Data-wise, look out for US durable goods and weekly jobless claims.
________________________________________
Ishaq Siddiqi
Market Strategist

duration:4:17

published:24 Apr 2014

updated:24 Apr 2014

views:215

Financial News Monday November 12, 2012

U.S. stock-market futures got a lift on Monday, helped by upbeat economic data out of China over the weekend and news that Greece passed its 2013 budget. A h...

What To Know Before Hitting The Car Lot In 2014

The average American vehicle is 11.4 years old, so it figures that many consumers will begin hitting the car lot as the weather heats up this spring and summer. And now is a pretty good time to buy a car, according to WalletHub's latest Auto Loan & Lease Report , as auto loan rates have fallen roughly 10% since early 2012 and have stabilized in recent months. The current landscape also offers a clear roadmap to the best deals.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2014/05/22/what-to-know-before-hitting-the-car-lot-in-2014/
http://www.wochit.com

http://usawatchdog.com/weekly-news-wrap-up-10-17-13/ - Nobody won the debt ceiling/budget crisis when you consider the fact the U.S. needed to borrow or print more money just to pay its bills. We are running a trillion dollar a year shortfall, and it cannot and will not go on. A disaster is coming in 2014. When the smoke clears with this debt ceiling budget fiasco, there will still be a failing economy that needs to be propped up. The real problem will come when everyone realizes that they will be forced to pay more for health insurance to get less. The Iranians want to take a year to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program. I do not think the West is going to give Iran a year to settle this question, and that includes Israel. Join Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog.com as he gives his analysis on these stories and more in the Weekly News Wrap-Up.

duration:13:29

published:18 Oct 2013

updated:18 Oct 2013

views:11436

Yellen Is Worried About Housing

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen recently told Congress that flattening housing activity "could prove more protracted than currently expected." Yellen's comment immediately threw a light not just on real estate, but on a host of other related topics affecting investors--not the least of which is interest rates.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamescahn/2014/05/23/yellen-is-worried-about-housing-what-does-that-mean-for-you/
http://www.wochit.com

duration:0:28

published:23 May 2014

updated:23 May 2014

views:7

Keiser Report: Debt Bomb (E332)

In this episode, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert discuss CNBC swooning for Biebanke,' Warren Buffett waving many red flags and tax revenue plummeting in UK after a dose of Georgie Porgie's bubble and fraud pudding. In the second half of the show, Max Keiser talks to Dominic Frisby, resident gold bug at Moneyweek, about debt bombs and the City of London. They also discuss how North Sea oil enabled the big bang and how a property bubble could undo it.
Follow Max Keiser on Twitter: http://twitter.com/maxkeiser
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http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL768A33676917AE90 (E1-E200)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC3F29DDAA1BABFCF (E201-current)
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RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.

duration:25:45

published:25 Aug 2012

updated:25 Aug 2012

views:36067

Crude slides on dollar strength, global equity slide

10/31/11 Front month crude prices started the new trading week in the red as the dollar surged and global equities were in the red.

DigitalGlobe Eyes $400 Million Market For High-res Images

For satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe, a $400 million-a-year global market awaits as soon as the United States relaxes regulations on the sale of higher-resolution images. That day cannot come soon enough for the only provider of commercial satellite images in the United States. Chief Financial Officer Yancey Spruill told Reuters in an interview, until then, DigitalGlobe cannot use its technology to full effect. Longmont, Colorado-based DigitalGlobe sells satellite images used by governments and companies such as Google to make maps. It also provides imaging services and satellite monitoring for mining and oil companies.
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/technologyNews/~3/VjZ1jzNi2Vc/story01.htm
http://www.wochit.com

duration:0:50

published:23 May 2014

updated:23 May 2014

views:0

What Everyone Should Know About Debt Consolidation For Bad Credit - Part 1

http://beatbankruptcyvideo.com - Click The Link To Watch Part 2 On What Everyone Should Know About Debt Consolidation For Bad Credit.
When you are in desperate financial need, you want to believe there is an easy way out. But when a debt consolidation contract that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Take a step back, and read about debt consolidation for bad credit.

duration:2:04

published:26 Apr 2011

updated:26 Apr 2011

views:257

Airbus May Cut More Defense Jobs In German Export Row

The head of Airbus Group told Reuters, Germany faces defense industry job cuts beyond those already planned and could even see factories closed or moved abroad if the government insists on toughening restrictions on arms exports. The company's defense and space division already plans to shed some 2,000 industrial jobs in Germany. Chief Executive Tom Enders told Reuters, "I am concerned about the increasingly restrictive arms export policy of Germany. This might trigger additional layoffs in Germany, beyond our current reduction plans."
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/businessNews/~3/PoDHgVQjdVM/story01.htm
http://www.wochit.com

duration:0:39

published:23 May 2014

updated:23 May 2014

views:0

Crude loses steam, trading lower as global markets cool off

10/28/11 After rising more than 3% yesterday, front month crude prices were trading lower this morning as global equities began to cool off following yesterd...

Burton High Fives - Competitions Start Tomorrow

Press Release: TUNE IN: Watch the Second Annual Burton High Fives snowboarding competition LIVE on on September 12 and 13 WHAT: The second annual Burton 'High Fives' presented by MINI snowboarding competition, is now underway at Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka, New Zealand. A live webcast of the slopestyle and halfpipe competitions will be on with the slopestyle coverage... more